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AASB Standard AASB 124 July 2015

Related Party Disclosures

Federal Register of Legislative Instruments F2015L01621

AASB 124 2 COPYRIGHT

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ISSN 1036-4803


AASB 124 3 CONTENTS

Contents

COMPARISON WITH IAS 24

ACCOUNTING STANDARD

AASB 124 RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES

from paragraph

OBJECTIVE 1

SCOPE 2

PURPOSE OF RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES 5

DEFINITIONS 9

DISCLOSURES

All entities 13

Government-related entities 25

EFFECTIVE DATE AND TRANSITION 28

WITHDRAWAL OF IAS 24 (2003) 29

COMMENCEMENT OF THE LEGISLATIVE INSTRUMENT Aus29.1

WITHDRAWAL OF AASB PRONOUNCEMENTS Aus29.2

APPENDICES

A Australian defined terms

B Australian reduced disclosure requirements

AUSTRALIAN IMPLEMENTATION GUIDANCE FOR NOT-FOR-PROFIT PUBLIC

SECTOR ENTITIES

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES

DELETED IAS 24 TEXT

BASIS FOR CONCLUSIONS ON AASB 2015-6

AVAILABLE ON THE AASB WEBSITE

Basis for Conclusions on IAS 24

Australian Accounting Standard AASB 124 Related Party Disclosures is set out in paragraphs 1 – Aus29.2 and

Appendices A – B and the Australian Implementation Guidance. All the paragraphs have equal authority. Paragraphs

in bold type state the main principles. AASB 124 is to be read in the context of other Australian Accounting

Standards, including AASB 1048 Interpretation of Standards, which identifies the Australian Accounting

Interpretations, and AASB 1057 Application of Australian Accounting Standards. In the absence of explicit guidance,

AASB 108 Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors provides a basis for selecting and

applying accounting policies.


AASB 124 4 COMPARISON

Comparison with IAS 24

AASB 124 Related Party Disclosures incorporates IAS 24 Related Party Disclosures issued by the International

Accounting Standards Board (IASB). Australian-specific paragraphs (which are not included in IAS 24) are identified

with the prefix “Aus”. Paragraphs that apply only to not-for-profit entities begin by identifying their limited

applicability.

Tier 1

For-profit entities complying with AASB 124 also comply with IAS 24.

Not-for-profit entities’ compliance with IAS 24 will depend on whether any “Aus” paragraphs that specifically apply

to not-for-profit entities provide additional guidance or contain applicable requirements that are inconsistent with

IAS 24.

Tier 2

Entities preparing general purpose financial statements under Australian Accounting Standards – Reduced Disclosure

Requirements (Tier 2) will not be in compliance with IFRSs.

AASB 1053 Application of Tiers of Australian Accounting Standards explains the two tiers of reporting requirements.


AASB 124 5 STANDARD

Accounting Standard AASB 124

The Australian Accounting Standards Board makes Accounting Standard AASB 124 Related Party Disclosures under

section 334 of the Corporations Act 2001.

Kris Peach

Dated 24 July 2015 Chair – AASB

Accounting Standard AASB 124 Related Party Disclosures

Objective

1 The objective of this Standard is to ensure that an entity’s financial statements contain the disclosures

necessary to draw attention to the possibility that its financial position and profit or loss may have been

affected by the existence of related parties and by transactions and outstanding balances, including

commitments, with such parties.

Scope

2 This Standard shall be applied in:

(a) identifying related party relationships and transactions;

(b) identifying outstanding balances, including commitments, between an entity and its related

parties;

(c) identifying the circumstances in which disclosure of the items in (a) and (b) is required; and

(d) determining the disclosures to be made about those items.

3 This Standard requires disclosure of related party relationships, transactions and outstanding

balances, including commitments, in the consolidated and separate financial statements of a parent or

investors with joint control of, or significant influence over, an investee presented in accordance with

AASB 10 Consolidated Financial Statements or AASB 127 Separate Financial Statements. This

Standard also applies to individual financial statements.

4 Related party transactions and outstanding balances with other entities in a group are disclosed in an entity’s

financial statements. Intragroup related party transactions and outstanding balances are eliminated, except

for those between an investment entity and its subsidiaries measured at fair value through profit or loss, in

the preparation of consolidated financial statements of the group.

Purpose of related party disclosures

5 Related party relationships are a normal feature of commerce and business. For example, entities frequently

carry on parts of their activities through subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates. In those circumstances,

the entity has the ability to affect the financial and operating policies of the investee through the presence of

control, joint control or significant influence.

6 A related party relationship could have an effect on the profit or loss and financial position of an entity.

Related parties may enter into transactions that unrelated parties would not. For example, an entity that sells

goods to its parent at cost might not sell on those terms to another customer. Also, transactions between

related parties may not be made at the same amounts as between unrelated parties.

7 The profit or loss and financial position of an entity may be affected by a related party relationship even if

related party transactions do not occur. The mere existence of the relationship may be sufficient to affect the

transactions of the entity with other parties. For example, a subsidiary may terminate relations with a

trading partner on acquisition by the parent of a fellow subsidiary engaged in the same activity as the former

trading partner. Alternatively, one party may refrain from acting because of the significant influence of

another—for example, a subsidiary may be instructed by its parent not to engage in research and

development.


AASB 124 6 STANDARD

8 For these reasons, knowledge of an entity’s transactions, outstanding balances, including commitments, and

relationships with related parties may affect assessments of its operations by users of financial statements,

including assessments of the risks and opportunities facing the entity.

Definitions

9 The following terms are used in this Standard with the meanings specified:

A related party is a person or entity that is related to the entity that is preparing its financial

statements (in this Standard referred to as the ‘reporting entity’).

(a) A person or a close member of that person’s family is related to a reporting entity if that

person:

(i) has control or joint control of the reporting entity;

(ii) has significant influence over the reporting entity; or

(iii) is a member of the key management personnel of the reporting entity or of a

parent of the reporting entity.

(b) An entity is related to a reporting entity if any of the following conditions applies:

(i) The entity and the reporting entity are members of the same group (which means

that each parent, subsidiary and fellow subsidiary is related to the others).

(ii) One entity is an associate or joint venture of the other entity (or an associate or

joint venture of a member of a group of which the other entity is a member).

(iii) Both entities are joint ventures of the same third party.

(iv) One entity is a joint venture of a third entity and the other entity is an associate of

the third entity.

(v) The entity is a post-employment benefit plan for the benefit of employees of either

the reporting entity or an entity related to the reporting entity. If the reporting

entity is itself such a plan, the sponsoring employers are also related to the

reporting entity.

(vi) The entity is controlled or jointly controlled by a person identified in (a).

(vii) A person identified in (a)(i) has significant influence over the entity or is a

member of the key management personnel of the entity (or of a parent of the

entity).

(viii) The entity, or any member of a group of which it is a part, provides key

management personnel services to the reporting entity or to the parent of the

reporting entity.

A related party transaction is a transfer of resources, services or obligations between a reporting entity

and a related party, regardless of whether a price is charged.

Close members of the family of a person are those family members who may be expected to influence,

or be influenced by, that person in their dealings with the entity and include:

(a) that person’s children and spouse or domestic partner;

(b) children of that person’s spouse or domestic partner; and

(c) dependants of that person or that person’s spouse or domestic partner.

Compensation includes all employee benefits (as defined in AASB 119 Employee Benefits) including

employee benefits to which AASB 2 Share-based Payment applies. Employee benefits are all forms of

consideration paid, payable or provided by the entity, or on behalf of the entity, in exchange for

services rendered to the entity. It also includes such consideration paid on behalf of a parent of the

entity in respect of the entity. Compensation includes:

(a) short-term employee benefits, such as wages, salaries and social security contributions, paid

annual leave and paid sick leave, profit-sharing and bonuses (if payable within twelve

months of the end of the period) and non-monetary benefits (such as medical care, housing,

cars and free or subsidised goods or services) for current employees;

(b) post-employment benefits such as pensions, other retirement benefits, post-employment life

insurance and post-employment medical care;


AASB 124 7 STANDARD

(c) other long-term employee benefits, including long-service leave or sabbatical leave, jubilee

or other long-service benefits, long-term disability benefits and, if they are not payable

wholly within twelve months after the end of the period, profit-sharing, bonuses and

deferred compensation;

(d) termination benefits; and

(e) share-based payment.

Key management personnel are those persons having authority and responsibility for planning,

directing and controlling the activities of the entity, directly or indirectly, including any director

(whether executive or otherwise) of that entity.

Government refers to government, government agencies and similar bodies whether local, national or

international.

A government-related entity is an entity that is controlled, jointly controlled or significantly influenced

by a government.

The terms ‘control’ and ‘investment entity’, ‘joint control’ and ‘significant influence’ are defined in

AASB 10, AASB 11 Joint Arrangements and AASB 128 Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures

respectively and are used in this Standard with the meanings specified in those Australian Accounting

Standards.

10 In considering each possible related party relationship, attention is directed to the substance of the

relationship and not merely the legal form.

11 In the context of this Standard, the following are not related parties:

(a) two entities simply because they have a director or other member of key management personnel

in common or because a member of key management personnel of one entity has significant

influence over the other entity.

(b) two joint venturers simply because they share joint control of a joint venture.

(c) (i) providers of finance,

(ii) trade unions,

(iii) public utilities, and

(iv) departments and agencies of a government that does not control, jointly control or

significant influence the reporting entity,

simply by virtue of their normal dealings with an entity (even though they may affect the freedom

of action of an entity or participate in its decision-making process).

(d) a customer, supplier, franchisor, distributor or general agent with whom an entity transacts a

significant volume of business, simply by virtue of the resulting economic dependence.

12 In the definition of a related party, an associate includes subsidiaries of the associate and a joint venture

includes subsidiaries of the joint venture. Therefore, for example, an associate’s subsidiary and the investor

that has significant influence over the associate are related to each other.

Disclosures

All entities

13 Relationships between a parent and its subsidiaries shall be disclosed irrespective of whether there

have been transactions between them. An entity shall disclose the name of its parent and, if different,

the ultimate controlling party. If neither the entity’s parent nor the ultimate controlling party

produces consolidated financial statements available for public use, the name of the next most senior

parent that does so shall also be disclosed.

Aus13.1 When any of the parent entities and/or ultimate controlling parties named in accordance with

paragraph 13 is incorporated or otherwise constituted outside Australia, an entity shall:

(a) identify which of those entities is incorporated overseas and where; and

(b) disclose the name of the ultimate controlling entity incorporated within Australia.


AASB 124 8 STANDARD

14 To enable users of financial statements to form a view about the effects of related party relationships on an

entity, it is appropriate to disclose the related party relationship when control exists, irrespective of whether

there have been transactions between the related parties.

15 The requirement to disclose related party relationships between a parent and its subsidiaries is in addition to

the disclosure requirements in AASB 127 and AASB 12 Disclosure of Interests in Other Entities.

16 Paragraph 13 refers to the next most senior parent. This is the first parent in the group above the immediate

parent that produces consolidated financial statements available for public use.

17 An entity shall disclose key management personnel compensation in total and for each of the

following categories:

(a) short-term employee benefits;

(b) post-employment benefits;

(c) other long-term benefits;

(d) termination benefits; and

(e) share-based payment.

17A If an entity obtains key management personnel services from another entity (the ‘management

entity’), the entity is not required to apply the requirements in paragraph 17 to the compensation

paid or payable by the management entity to the management entity’s employees or directors.

18 If an entity has had related party transactions during the periods covered by the financial statements,

it shall disclose the nature of the related party relationship as well as information about those

transactions and outstanding balances, including commitments, necessary for users to understand the

potential effect of the relationship on the financial statements. These disclosure requirements are in

addition to those in paragraph 17. At a minimum, disclosures shall include:

(a) the amount of the transactions;

(b) the amount of outstanding balances, including commitments, and:

(i) their terms and conditions, including whether they are secured, and the nature of

the consideration to be provided in settlement; and

(ii) details of any guarantees given or received;

(c) provisions for doubtful debts related to the amount of outstanding balances; and

(d) the expense recognised during the period in respect of bad or doubtful debts due from

related parties.

18A Amounts incurred by the entity for the provision of key management personnel services that are

provided by a separate management entity shall be disclosed.

19 The disclosures required by paragraph 18 shall be made separately for each of the following

categories:

(a) the parent;

(b) entities with joint control of, or significant influence over, the entity;

(c) subsidiaries;

(d) associates;

(e) joint ventures in which the entity is a joint venturer;

(f) key management personnel of the entity or its parent; and

(g) other related parties.

20 The classification of amounts payable to, and receivable from, related parties in the different categories as

required in paragraph 19 is an extension of the disclosure requirement in AASB 101 Presentation of

Financial Statements for information to be presented either in the statement of financial position or in the

notes. The categories are extended to provide a more comprehensive analysis of related party balances and

apply to related party transactions.

21 The following are examples of transactions that are disclosed if they are with a related party:

(a) purchases or sales of goods (finished or unfinished);

(b) purchases or sales of property and other assets;

(c) rendering or receiving of services;


AASB 124 9 STANDARD

(d) leases;

(e) transfers of research and development;

(f) transfers under licence agreements;

(g) transfers under finance arrangements (including loans and equity contributions in cash or in

kind);

(h) provision of guarantees or collateral;

(i) commitments to do something if a particular event occurs or does not occur in the future,

including executory contracts1 (recognised and unrecognised); and

(j) settlement of liabilities on behalf of the entity or by the entity on behalf of that related party.

22 Participation by a parent or subsidiary in a defined benefit plan that shares risks between group entities is a

transaction between related parties (see paragraph 42 of AASB 119).

23 Disclosures that related party transactions were made on terms equivalent to those that prevail in arm’s

length transactions are made only if such terms can be substantiated.

24 Items of a similar nature may be disclosed in aggregate except when separate disclosure is necessary

for an understanding of the effects of related party transactions on the financial statements of the

entity.

Government-related entities

25 A reporting entity is exempt from the disclosure requirements of paragraph 18 in relation to related

party transactions and outstanding balances, including commitments, with:

(a) a government that has control or joint control of, or significant influence over, the reporting

entity; and

(b) another entity that is a related party because the same government has control or joint

control of, or significant influence over, both the reporting entity and the other entity.

26 If a reporting entity applies the exemption in paragraph 25, it shall disclose the following about the

transactions and related outstanding balances referred to in paragraph 25:

(a) the name of the government and the nature of its relationship with the reporting entity (ie

control, joint control or significant influence);

(b) the following information in sufficient detail to enable users of the entity’s financial

statements to understand the effect of related party transactions on its financial statements:

(i) the nature and amount of each individually significant transaction; and

(ii) for other transactions that are collectively, but not individually, significant, a

qualitative or quantitative indication of their extent. Types of transactions include

those listed in paragraph 21.

27 In using its judgement to determine the level of detail to be disclosed in accordance with the requirements in

paragraph 26(b), the reporting entity shall consider the closeness of the related party relationship and other

factors relevant in establishing the level of significance of the transaction such as whether it is:

(a) significant in terms of size;

(b) carried out on non-market terms;

(c) outside normal day-to-day business operations, such as the purchase and sale of businesses;

(d) disclosed to regulatory or supervisory authorities;

(e) reported to senior management;

(f) subject to shareholder approval.

Effective date and transition

28 [Deleted by the AASB]

1 AASB 137 Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets defines executory contracts as contracts under which neither party

has performed any of its obligations or both parties have partially performed their obligations to an equal extent.


AASB 124 10 STANDARD

Aus28.1 An entity shall apply this Standard for annual periods beginning on or after 1 July 2016. Earlier

application is permitted for periods beginning on or after 1 January 2014 but before 1 July 2016.

If an entity applies this Standard for a period beginning before 1 July 2016, it shall disclose that

fact.

Aus28.2 AASB 2015-6 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards – Extending Related Party

Disclosures to Not-for-Profit Public Sector Entities amended the previous version of this

Standard as follows: deleted paragraph Aus1.3, amended paragraph Aus9.1 and added the

Australian Implementation Guidance for Not-for-Profit Public Sector Entities. An entity shall

apply those amendments for annual periods beginning on or after 1 July 2016. Earlier application

is permitted. Those amendments shall be applied prospectively as at the beginning of the annual

period in which this Standard is initially applied. For example, a not-for-profit public sector entity

shall apply this Standard prospectively as at the beginning of the annual period in which this

Standard is initially applied.

28A–

28B [Deleted by the AASB]

28C AASB 2014-1 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards, issued in June 2014, amended the previous

version of this Standard as follows: amended paragraph 9 and added paragraphs 17A and 18A. An entity

shall apply that amendment for annual periods beginning on or after 1 July 2014. Earlier application is

permitted. If an entity applies that amendment for an earlier period it shall disclose that fact.

Withdrawal of IAS 24 (2003)

29 [Deleted by the AASB]

Commencement of the legislative instrument

Aus29.1 For legal purposes, this legislative instrument commences on 30 June 2016.

Withdrawal of AASB pronouncements

Aus29.2 This Standard repeals AASB 124 Related Party Disclosures issued in December 2009. Despite

the repeal, after the time this Standard starts to apply under section 334 of the Corporations Act

(either generally or in relation to an individual entity), the repealed Standard continues to apply in

relation to any period ending before that time as if the repeal had not occurred.

[Note: When this Standard applies under section 334 of the Corporations Act (either generally or

in relation to an individual entity), it supersedes the application of the repealed Standard.]


AASB 124 11 APPENDIX A

Appendix A Australian defined terms

This appendix is an integral part of AASB 124.

Aus9.1 The following terms are also used in this Standard with the meaning specified.

Director means:

(a) a person who is a director under the Corporations Act; and

(b) in the case of entities governed by bodies not called a board of directors, a person

who, regardless of the name that is given to the position, is appointed to the

position of member of the governing body, council, commission or authority.

Remuneration is compensation as defined in this Standard.

Aus9.1.1 Although the defined term ‘compensation’ is used in this Standard rather than the term

‘remuneration’, both words refer to the same concept and all references in the Corporations Act

to the remuneration of directors and executives is taken as referring to compensation as defined

and explained in this Standard.


AASB 124 12 APPENDIX B

Appendix B Australian reduced disclosure requirements

This appendix is an integral part of AASB 124.

AusB1 The following do not apply to entities preparing general purpose financial statements under

Australian Accounting Standards – Reduced Disclosure Requirements:

(a) paragraphs Aus13.1, 26 and 27;

(b) in paragraph 17, the text “and for each of … (e) share-based payment”; and

(c) in paragraph 22, the text “(see paragraph 42 of AASB 119)”.

Entities applying Australian Accounting Standards – Reduced Disclosure Requirements

may elect to comply with some or all of these excluded requirements.

AusB2 The requirements that do not apply to entities preparing general purpose financial statements

under Australian Accounting Standards – Reduced Disclosure Requirements are also identified in

this Standard by shading of the relevant text.


AASB 124 13 AUSTRALIAN GUIDANCE

Australian implementation guidance for not-for-profit public sector entities

This guidance is an integral part of AASB 124 and has the same authority as the other parts of the Standard. The

guidance applies only to public sector entities. The guidance does not apply to private sector entities or affect their

application of AASB 124.

IG1 AASB 124 Related Party Disclosures incorporates International Financial Reporting Standard IAS 24

Related Party Disclosures, issued by the International Accounting Standards Board. Consequently, much

of the text of the body of this Standard and the Illustrative Examples is expressed from the perspective of

for-profit entities. The AASB has prepared this guidance to explain and illustrate the principles in the

Standard to assist application of the Standard by not-for-profit public sector entities, particularly to address

circumstances where a for-profit perspective does not readily translate to a not-for-profit public sector

perspective. This guidance also assists not-for-profit public sector entities in determining the extent of the

information necessary to meet the objective of the Standard. This guidance does not remove the need for

judgement to be applied by an entity in complying with the requirements of the Standard.

IG2 This guidance addresses a range of matters affecting not-for-profit public sector entities broadly in the order

in which the related paragraphs appear in the body of the Standard. Illustrative examples are provided in

the implementation guidance. The examples apply by analogy to types of not-for-profit public sector

entities other than those identified in the examples and similar circumstances. It is the facts and

circumstances in any case, not simply the type of not-for-profit public sector entity, that need to be assessed

in determining the appropriate disclosures that apply.

Identification of key management personnel

IG3 Paragraph 9 of the Standard defines key management personnel as being those persons having the authority

and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the entity, directly or indirectly,

including any director (whether executive or otherwise) of the entity. In a public sector context, entities

should consider the facts and circumstances, including the terms of the relevant legislative instruments that

give rise to the entity, in assessing whether a person is a member of the key management personnel, as

defined, of the entity. For example, the facts and circumstances may reflect that not all persons described as

‘senior executive staff’ or ‘Secretary’ or ‘Minister’ may be a member of the key management personnel of

the entity. Similarly, in relation to a not-for-profit public sector entity, the facts and circumstances may

reflect that a person’s powers do not give rise to a capacity to direct or control the activities of an entity,

where the powers are only ceremonial or procedural in substance.

IG4 Normally, the determination of key management personnel is similar for entities in the public sector and the

private sector. However, ministerial-type roles do not normally arise in a private sector context. A Minister

would be a member of the key management personnel of an entity that is within the Minister’s portfolio if

the Minister has the “authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the

entity, directly or indirectly”. In some entities or jurisdictions, the responsible Minister may not, in

substance, have such authority and responsibility over the activities of the entity, and consequently would

not meet the definition of key management personnel.

IG5 A Minister may be a member of the key management personnel of an entity where the Minister’s role and

responsibilities result in the Minister forming part of the group of persons tasked with determining the

direction of the entity. It would be uncommon for a Minister to be a member of the key management

personnel of an entity that is within their portfolio where the entity is not otherwise controlled by the

government, as the government’s powers and functions (executed by the Minister) in relation to that entity

would have formed part of the government’s assessment of whether it controls the entity. Whether a

Minister is a member of the key management personnel of an entity controlled by the government will

depend on the facts and circumstances that apply in each instance, as the determination of the key

management personnel of an entity is made on an entity by entity basis. Accordingly, a member of the key

management personnel of the government is not necessarily also a member of the key management

personnel of each entity controlled by that government (see also paragraph IG10).

IG6 Examples 1–6 illustrate application of the definition of key management personnel by not-for-profit public

sector entities. These examples do not limit the persons who may be key management personnel of a not-

for-profit public sector entity to only those roles described.



Example 1

Minister A is the Australian Minister for Education and Training. Minister A administers their portfolio through the

Department of Education and Training (the Department), a controlled entity of the Australian Government. Minister

A is accountable to Parliament for the actions of the Department. As part of the portfolio, the Minister is responsible

for:

• education policy and programs including schools, vocational, higher education and Indigenous education,

but excluding migrant adult education;

• education and training transitions policy and programs;

• science awareness programs in schools;

• training, including apprenticeships and training services;

• policy, co-ordination and support for education exports and services; and

• income support policies and programs for students and apprentices.

• Minister B is the Assistant Minister for Education and Training. Assistant Ministers are appointed to assist

Ministers in prioritising work, to provide a training experience for future Ministers, to facilitate public

access to the Ministers and to enable the bureaucracy to have an ongoing point of contact so that

parliamentary correspondence and other parliamentary administrative issues are neither overlooked nor

downgraded. As an Assistant Minister, Minister B cannot:

• sit as a Minister in Cabinet;

• attend a meeting of the Executive Council or sign Executive Council Minutes on behalf of the Minister;

• perform any duties in Parliament on behalf of the Minister including answering questions without notice,

presenting Ministerial Statements, tabling documents and introducing legislation; or

• appear before a Committee of Parliament on behalf of the Minister.

The Department is responsible for delivering national policies and programs that help Australians access quality early

childhood education, school education, higher education, vocational education and training, international education

and research. The Department is headed by the Secretary of the Department, who reports to the Australian Minister

for Education and Training. At the same time, the Secretary also makes reports to the Assistant Minister for

Education and Training. The Secretary of the Department, and two Associate Secretaries and a Deputy Secretary

within the Department, operate as the executive management team responsible for the day-to-day delivery of the

Department’s services.

Based on the facts and circumstances above, Minister A, the Secretary of the Department, and the two Associate

Secretaries and Deputy Secretary are members of the key management personnel of the Department as they have the

authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the entity. Minister A’s role is akin

to that of a director in a company, as the Minister discharges their role and responsibilities regarding the Department

and is ultimately responsible for the performance of the Department. Minister B is not a member of the key

management personnel of the Department as Minister B’s role supports that of the Minister, rather than having any

authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the Department in Minister B’s

own right.

Example 2

The Cabinet is a group within the Australian Government (the Commonwealth of Australia) comprising the Prime

Minister and a number of senior Ministers. All current Ministers are part of the Executive Council, but not all

Ministers are also part of Cabinet. The Governor-General is the chair of the Executive Council.

Minister A, the Australian Minister for Education and Training, is part of Cabinet. Minister B, the Assistant Minister

for Education and Training is not part of Cabinet but is part of the Executive Council. Minister D, the Minister for

Justice, is also not part of Cabinet but is part of the Executive Council.

Cabinet’s role is to direct the overall government policy and make decisions about national issues. In Cabinet

meetings, Ministers also present bills from their government departments. Cabinet examines these bills, and

recommends whether bills should proceed to Parliament or changes should be made. A Minister who is not part of

Cabinet may be invited to a Cabinet meeting to speak about developments within their portfolio. The Cabinet is

accountable to Parliament for the running of the government.

The Executive Council is a constitutional body charged with advising the Governor-General. Legally, members of the

Executive Council are chosen by the Governor-General; however, in practice, all current Ministers are part of the



Executive Council. The Executive Council acts as a formal ratification body for the decisions of Cabinet, and is

required to undertake a range of functions including making proclamations, regulations and ordinances as delegated

by various Acts of Parliament, issuing writs for elections, appointing public servants and recommending the

appointment of judges.

Section 61 of the Australian Constitution provides that “The executive power of the Commonwealth is vested in the

Queen and is exercisable by the Governor-General as the Queen’s representative, and extends to the execution and

maintenance of this Constitution, and of the laws of the Commonwealth”. However, the Governor-General is bound

by convention to follow the advice of the Executive Council.

Based on the facts and circumstances above, Minister A is a member of the key management personnel of the

Australian Government. As part of Cabinet and having regard to Cabinet’s powers, Minister A has the authority and

responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the Australian Government. In addition, as a

member of the key management personnel of the Australian Government, Minister A is also a related party of any

entities controlled by the Australian Government, consistent with paragraph 9 of the Standard.

Minister B and Minister D are unlikely to be members of the key management personnel of the Australian

Government as, although they are part of the Executive Council, they are outside the group of persons responsible for

making decisions about the overall running of the government. Further, in substance, neither the members of the

Executive Council nor Governor-General have the authority and responsibility for directing and controlling the

activities of the Australian Government, and accordingly, are not members of the key management personnel of the

Australian Government reporting entity.

Example 3

University XYZ is a not-for-profit public sector entity established under an Act of the State Government. The State

Government has determined that it does not control the University.

The governing body of the University is the University Council. The University Council consists of 17 members, five

of whom are appointed directly or indirectly by the State Minister for Education. The Chair of the University Council

is the Chancellor, who is the formal head of the University. The Chancellor is responsible for ensuring the efficient

operation of the University Council in the performance of its governance role, presiding at ceremonial occasions of

the University and acting as a signatory to official statutory reports of the University.

The Act specifies that the University Council’s responsibilities, powers and functions include:

• approving the mission, strategic direction and annual budget and business plan of the University;

• establishing policies (‘university statutes and regulations’) relating to the governance and operation of the

University, including trusts and endowments, and research, development, consultancy, commercial

activities and other services undertaken for commercial organisations or public bodies;

• developing guidelines (if any) concerning the carrying out of commercial activities, finance and property

matters, or any other related matter;

• overseeing the management of the property, finances and business affairs of the University, such as risk

management across the University, including its commercial activities;

• any other powers and functions conferred on it by or under legislation or any university statute or

regulation; and

• the power to do anything else necessary or convenient to be done for or in connection with its powers and

functions.

The University Council has a range of powers and functions that it can exercise directly, including the following:

• appointing the Vice-Chancellor, who is the chief executive officer of the University and responsible for the

conduct of the University’s affairs in all matters;

• determining the composition of borrowings within the parameters set by the State Government;

• approving the University’s budget for a financial year, incorporating total revenue and the planned revenue

sources, including planning the mix between teaching, research and commercial activities, the fees and

charges to apply to those activities, and the type and value of government grants desired;

• determining the course mix and target student mix, such as vocational, undergraduate, graduate and

executive courses, on-campus or distance learning, and local and international students;

• appointing staff and determining their terms and conditions;



• deciding whether to operate through multiple campuses and how to utilise the University’s infrastructure;

and

• making university regulations with respect to any matter relating to the University.

The University Council has delegated the day-to-day management responsibilities and other functions to the

University’s executive and other senior staff in order to be able to focus on the broader policy and strategic issues.

The State Minister for Education has the following powers and functions as part of the Minister’s role in the State

Government:

• fixing the remuneration and fees to be paid to University Council members who are not full-time staff of the

University or holders of statutory office;

• approving (or vetoing) University statutes and guidelines made by the University Council;

• declaring an activity to be a university commercial activity;

• making interim guidelines concerning university commercial activities and finance and property matters –

these apply unless replaced by University-submitted guidelines approved by the Minister;

• in conjunction with the State Treasurer, approving the limits and conditions (eg security) for University

borrowings;

• approving (or vetoing) the disposal of land that was previously Crown land granted to the University;

• requesting commercial and financial reports from the University;

• referring a university commercial activity or any aspect thereof to the auditor-general for investigation; and

• ensuring that the University complies with certain rights specified in State Government grants provided to

the University – some of the grants are required to be repaid if not applied as specified.

Based on the facts and circumstances above, as the State Government has determined that it does not control the

University, it is unlikely that the State Minister for Education, as the executor of the State Government’s powers, is a

member of the key management personnel of the University, as the evaluation of control includes an assessment of the

State Government’s ability to direct the activities that most significantly affect the University’s outcomes. The State

Minister’s powers and functions (provided to the position) may restrict the way in which the University operates, but

do not of themselves give the State Minister authority and responsibility for the activities of the University.

Rather, based on the facts and circumstances above, it is the University Council (who are akin to a board of directors,

with the Chancellor akin to a non-executive chairman) and the University’s executive and other senior staff who have

the authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the University.

The purpose of this Example is to assist entities with the identification of key management personnel of a not-for-

profit public sector entity. However, an entity should also consider whether the State Minister for Education, or the

State Government, will otherwise meet the definition of a related party of the University (see paragraph 9 of the

Standard).

Example 4

The LMN local government (the Council) is a local government entity created under a State’s Local Government Act

(the Act) and is subject to a wide range of State Government regulatory powers. The interest of the State Government

in the activities of the Council is primarily to ensure that the general objectives set out in the Act are being achieved or

furthered. The State Government’s rights in respect of the Council are held primarily by the State Minister for Local

Government. These rights allow the State Government (via the State Minister for Local Government) to advise or

guide the Council in its activities, or under particular circumstances, to intervene in the activities of the Council.

Minister X is the State Minister for Local Government. The Minister administers their portfolio through the Local

Government branch of the State Department of Transport, Planning and Local Infrastructure (the Department). As

part of the Minister’s role and responsibilities, Minister X is responsible for:

• the scrutiny of councils, including municipal boundaries;

• making recommendations for allocation of project grants to local governments for projects;

• overseeing tendering processes for council services;

• ensuring the concerns of local governments are communicated to the State Cabinet; and

• the coordination of council community and infrastructure work at a State level.



The Council’s primary objective is to achieve the best outcomes for the local community over the long term. The

Council is empowered by the Act to do all things necessary and convenient for the achievement of its objectives and

the performance of its functions, subject to any limitations under the Act or any other legislation.

The Council is administered by 10 councillors, who are elected directly by the local community in periodic elections.

The Council’s functions include raising revenue to fund its functions and activities, and planning for and providing

services and facilities (including infrastructure) for the local community. In carrying out its functions, the Council

undertakes a wide range of activities including the imposition of rates and charges upon constituents, and the

provision without charge of services such as parks and roads. The day-to-day operations of the Council are carried

out by council staff under the direction of its elected councillors.

The State Government has determined that it does not control the Council.

Based on the facts and circumstances above, Minister X is not a member of the key management personnel of the

Council, as the Minister’s role does not extend to having the authority and responsibility for planning, directing and

controlling the activities of the Council itself. Having concluded that the State Government does not control the

council, Minister X’s role as executor of the State Government’s powers and rights over the Council cannot of itself

enable Minister X to meet the definition of key management personnel of the Council. Rather, in this example, it is

the councillors and senior council staff who have the authority and responsibility for the activities of the Council

(similar to a board of directors and senior management of a company).


profit public sector entity. However, an entity should also consider whether Minister X, or the State Government, will

otherwise meet the definition of a related party of the Council (see paragraph 9 of the Standard).

Example 5

Minister E, the State Minister for Education, Minister F, the State Minister for Children and Early Childhood, and

Minister G, the State Minister for Higher Education and Skills, administer their portfolios wholly through the State

Department of Education (the Department), a controlled entity of the State Government.

The day-to-day operations of the Department are managed by an Executive Board comprising the Secretary of the

Department and the head of each of the Department’s divisions. The Executive Board is the governance and decision-

making body for the Department accountable for the:

• strategic direction and leadership of the Department;

• management of the Department;

• decision-making and risk management;

• monitoring and evaluation of the Department’s activities; and

• compliance and stakeholder management.

The Department reports to the three Ministers, separately or jointly as appropriate to the nature of the Ministers’

portfolio. The Ministers are jointly accountable to Parliament for the actions of the Department.

Based on the facts and circumstances above, Minister E, Minister F and Minister G, and the members of the Executive

Board are members of the key management personnel of the Department as they have the authority and responsibility

for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the Department. The Ministers’ roles are akin to that of

directors in a company, even though each has responsibility only to the extent of their respective portfolios, as they

discharge their roles and responsibilities regarding the Department and are ultimately responsible for the performance

of the Department.

Example 6

Statutory authority SLA is a statutory authority of the State Government tasked with providing legal information,

advice and representation to financially disadvantaged residents of the State. As a statutory authority, SLA was

established under its own enabling legislation, which sets out its functions, powers and responsibilities. Its remit is

such that it generally operates independently of any governmental direction or influence.

SLA is funded by the State Government to undertake state law matters. The State Government may specify areas to

which certain of the funds granted should be allocated. SLA is a controlled entity of the State Government.

The execution and authority for the day-to-day operations of SLA are the responsibility of its executive management

team, who report to the Board of SLA. The Board is the statutory authority’s governing body and is responsible for



managing SLA and ensuring that its objectives are achieved. The Board is responsible for deciding SLA’s priorities

and strategies, leading its policy direction and ensuring its sound and prudent financial management. Board members

are appointed by the State Governor in Council, on advice of the State Minister for Justice.

SLA is accountable to the State Government for the delivery of legal assistance services. As a statutory authority, the

Board of SLA reports to the State Minister for Justice, who is responsible to Parliament for the oversight of statutory

authorities within the Minister’s portfolio.

SLA’s enabling legislation provides that the Board must:

• if asked by the State Minister for Justice, give the Minister a report on any issue relevant to its functions,

other than about legal assistance for a particular person; and

• act upon a written direction given by the State Minister for Justice about the performance of SLA’s

functions or exercise of its powers, and its policies, priorities or guidelines, including priorities in legal

assistance funding. The direction cannot be about giving legal assistance to a particular person.

While SLA generally operates independently of any governmental direction or influence, from time to time, the State

Minister for Justice has requested various reports and required SLA to act as directed.

Based on the facts and circumstances above, the Board and executive management team of SLA are members of the

key management personnel of the entity, as they ultimately have the authority and responsibility for planning,

directing and controlling the activities of the entity. In this fact pattern, the State Minister for Justice is also a member

of the key management personnel of SLA, as the powers vested in the Minister’s role also give the Minister authority

and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the entity, as SLA is required to act in

accordance with the Minister’s written directions (which may relate to SLA’s execution of its remit).


profit public sector entity. However, consideration should also be given to whether the State Government is a related

party of SLA (see paragraph 9 of the Standard).

Key management personnel compensation

IG7 In the public sector, Ministers are normally compensated through one or more central government agencies

or authorities. In relation to not-for-profit public sector entities, the central government agency typically

operates as a management entity for the purposes of applying paragraph 17A of the Standard.

IG8 Paragraph 18A of the Standard requires disclosure of amounts incurred by the entity preparing general

purpose financial statements for the key management personnel services that are provided by a separate

management entity. No disclosure is required to comply with the requirement in paragraph 18A where an

entity is not obligated to reimburse the management entity for key management personnel services it has

obtained.

Related party transactions

IG9 Paragraph 18 of the Standard requires an entity to disclose information about transactions that have

occurred between the entity and its related parties, including transactions between the entity and its key

management personnel or key management personnel of the entity’s parent, that is necessary for users to

understand the potential effect of the relationship on the financial statements.

IG10 Ministers, councillors and other senior public servants may qualify as a related party of a public sector

entity under one or more of the criteria set down in paragraph (a) in the definition of ‘related party’ in

AASB 124. For example, a Minister who is a member of the key management personnel of the

Commonwealth or State government is, under the definition of ‘related party’, a related party not only of

the Commonwealth or State government consolidated entity but also of each controlled entity of that

government (see Example 2 in paragraph IG6). In such instances, the Standard requires the controlled

government entity to disclose related party transactions with that Minister which are necessary to meet the

objective noted in paragraph 1 of the Standard, whether or not the Minister has responsibility for the entity.

IG11 A related party transaction is a transfer of resources, services or obligations between an entity and its related

party, regardless of whether a price is charged. In the not-for-profit public sector, many entities are likely to

engage frequently with persons who are a related party of that entity in the course of delivering the entity’s

public service objectives, including the raising of funds (for example, rates and taxes) to meet those

objectives. These related party transactions often occur on terms and conditions no different to those

applying to the general public (for example, the Medicare rebate or public school fees). A not-for-profit

public sector entity may determine that information about related party transactions occurring during the



course of delivering its public service objectives and which occur on no different terms to that of the general

public is not material for disclosure in its general purpose financial statements and accordingly need not be

disclosed. Guidance relevant to an entity’s assessment of the materiality of a disclosure to its general

purpose financial statements is included in AASB 101 Presentation of Financial Statements and AASB 108

Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors. The factors described in paragraph 27

of the Standard may also assist an entity in making this determination.

IG12 Examples 7–8 describe different types of related party transactions that may occur between not-for-profit

public sector entities and their related parties:

Example 7

Councillor P is a member of the key management personnel of the LMN local government (the Council). The

Council’s functions include raising revenue to fund its functions and activities, and planning for and providing

services and facilities (including infrastructure) for the local community. In carrying out its functions, the Council

undertakes a wide range of activities including the imposition of rates and charges upon constituents, and the

provision without charge of services such as parks and roads.

Councillor P is a ratepayer residing within the Council’s constituency. As such, Councillor P takes advantage of the

availability of free public access to local parks and libraries. Councillor P also used the swimming pool at the

Council’s Recreation Centre twice during the financial year, paying the casual entry fee applicable to the general

public each time. The recreation centre has approximately 20,000 visitors each financial year.

All of the transactions described above between the Council and Councillor P are related party transactions of the

Council considered for disclosure in the Council’s general purpose financial statements. Based on the facts and

circumstances described, the Council may determine that these transactions are unlikely to influence the decisions that

users of the Council’s financial statements make having regard to both the extent of the transactions, and that the

transactions have occurred between the Council and Councillor P within a public service provider/ taxpayer

relationship.

Example 8

Minister Z, the State Minister for Planning, has responsibility for a range of functions and, in certain circumstances,

has the power to intervene on matters associated with planning and heritage processes. Minister Z is a member of the

key management personnel of State Government H.

Entity MED is a controlled entity of State Government H, and operates within the State Health sector. Entity MED is

currently seeking State development approval for a potentially contentious new building.

Around this time, Entity MED enters into a contract with Entity STU, an entity wholly-owned and controlled by a

close member of Minister Z’s family for Entity STU to provide cleaning services at various current and future Entity

MED locations, including the new building when completed. The cleaning contract was won by Entity STU in an

open tender. Minister Z has declared information about the contract to provide cleaning services to Cabinet and it is

included as part of the Minister’s Register of Members’ Interests. During the reporting period, Entity STU rendered

services of $50,000 to Entity MED. No amounts remain outstanding at Entity STU’s reporting date. Entity MED

assesses the cleaning services rendered to be a material component of its total operating expenses.

Entity STU is a related party of Entity MED in accordance with the definition of a related party in paragraph 9 of the

Standard. The provision of $50,000 cleaning services by Entity STU to Entity MED described above is a related party

transaction of Entity MED as there has been a transfer of services and resources between Entity MED and Entity STU.

Based on the facts and circumstances described, management of Entity MED may determine that information about

the transaction is material for disclosure in its general purpose financial statements as there has been a transfer of

resources occurring other than as a result of a public service provider/ taxpayer relationship between related parties

and the amount of the transaction is material to Entity MED.

The provision of $50,000 cleaning services by Entity STU to Entity MED described above is also a related party

transaction of State Government H as Minister Z is a member of the key management personnel of State Government

H and Entity MED is a controlled entity of State Government H. State Government H should separately assess

whether the related party transaction is material for disclosure in the whole-of-government financial statements.




IG13 Paragraph 25 of the Standard provides a limited exemption from the disclosure requirements of paragraph

18 for government-related entities, subject to the alternative disclosures in paragraph 26 of the Standard.

An entity considers, on balance, the range of factors included in paragraph 27, as well as any additional

relevant factors, in determining the extent of the disclosure required by paragraph 26(b). In some instances,

the presence of a single factor identified in paragraph 27 will not be sufficient to inform the entity of the

level of individual or collective significance of the transaction. For example, a requirement of legislation to

report on various transactions to Parliament may not of itself inform a not-for-profit public sector entity of

the significance of a transaction to itself where the entity’s objective is to carry out such transactions, and

consequently, the entity should also have regard to other factors in forming its assessment of the

significance of the transaction. In other instances, a single factor may be adequate to establish the extent of

the significance of the transaction to the entity.

IG14 Individually significant transactions would normally form a small subset, by number, of the total related

party transactions of the entity. Paragraph IE3 in the Illustrative Examples accompanying the Standard

provides examples of disclosure to comply with paragraph 26(b).


AASB 124 21 EXAMPLES

Illustrative examples

The following examples accompany, but are not part of, AASB 124 Related Party Disclosures. They illustrate:

• the partial exemption for government-related entities; and

• how the definition of a related party would apply in specified circumstances.

In the examples, references to ‘financial statements’ relate to the individual, separate or consolidated financial

statements.

Partial exemption for government-related entities

Example 1 – Exemption from disclosure (paragraph 25)

IE1 Government G directly or indirectly controls Entities 1 and 2 and Entities A, B, C and D. Person X is a

member of the key management personnel of Entity 1.

IE2 For Entity A’s financial statements, the exemption in paragraph 25 applies to:

(a) transactions with Government G; and

(b) transactions with Entities 1 and 2 and Entities B, C and D.

However, that exemption does not apply to transactions with Person X.

Disclosure requirements when exemption applies (paragraph 26)

IE3 In Entity A’s financial statements, an example of disclosure to comply with paragraph 26(b)(i) for

individually significant transactions could be:

Example of disclosure for individually significant transaction carried out on non-market terms

On 15 January 20X1 Entity A, a utility company in which Government G indirectly owns 75 per cent of

outstanding shares, sold a 10 hectare piece of land to another government-related utility company for CU5

million.2 On 31 December 20X0 a plot of land in a similar location, of a similar size and with similar

characteristics, was sold for CU3 million. There had not been any appreciation or depreciation of the land in

the intervening period. See note X [of the financial statements] for disclosure of government assistance as

required by AASB 120 Accounting for Government Grants and Disclosure of Government Assistance and

notes Y and Z [of the financial statements] for compliance with other relevant Australian Accounting

Standards.

2 In these examples monetary amounts are denominated in ‘currency units (CU)’.

Government G

X

Entity 1

Entity 2

Entity A

Entity B

Entity C

Entity D



Example of disclosure for individually significant transaction because of size of transaction

In the year ended December 20X1 Government G provided Entity A, a utility company in which

Government G indirectly owns 75 per cent of outstanding shares, with a loan equivalent to 50 per cent of its

funding requirement, repayable in quarterly instalments over the next five years. Interest is charged on the

loan at a rate of 3 per cent, which is comparable to that charged on Entity A’s bank loans.3 See notes Y and

Z [of the financial statements] for compliance with other relevant Australian Accounting Standards.

Example of disclosure of collectively significant transactions

In Entity A’s financial statements, an example of disclosure to comply with paragraph 26(b)(ii) for

collectively significant transactions could be:

Government G, indirectly, owns 75 per cent of Entity A’s outstanding shares. Entity A’s significant

transactions with Government G and other entities controlled, jointly controlled or significantly influenced

by Government G are [a large portion of its sales of goods and purchases of raw materials] or [about 50 per

cent of its sales of goods and about 35 per cent of its purchases of raw materials].

The company also benefits from guarantees by Government G of the company’s bank borrowing. See note

X [of the financial statements] for disclosure of government assistance as required by AASB 120

Accounting for Government Grants and Disclosure of Government Assistance and notes Y and Z [of the

financial statements] for compliance with other relevant Australian Accounting Standards.

Definition of a related party

The references are to subparagraphs of the definition of a related party in paragraph 9 of AASB 124.

Example 2 – Associates and subsidiaries

IE4 Parent entity has a controlling interest in Subsidiaries A, B and C and has significant influence over

Associates 1 and 2. Subsidiary C has significant influence over Associate 3.

IE5 For Parent’s separate financial statements, Subsidiaries A, B and C and Associates 1, 2 and 3 are related

parties. [Paragraph 9(b)(i) and (ii)]

IE6 For Subsidiary A’s financial statements, Parent, Subsidiaries B and C and Associates 1, 2 and 3 are related

parties. For Subsidiary B’s separate financial statements, Parent, Subsidiaries A and C and Associates 1, 2

and 3 are related parties. For Subsidiary C’s financial statements, Parent, Subsidiaries A and B and

Associates 1, 2 and 3 are related parties. [Paragraph 9(b)(i) and (ii)]

IE7 For the financial statements of Associates 1, 2 and 3, Parent and Subsidiaries A, B and C are related parties.

Associates 1, 2 and 3 are not related to each other. [Paragraph 9(b)(ii)]

3 If the reporting entity had concluded that this transaction constituted government assistance it would have needed to consider the

disclosure requirements in AASB 120.

Parent

Subsidiary A Subsidiary B

Subsidiary C

Associate 2

Associate 3

Associate 1



IE8 For Parent’s consolidated financial statements, Associates 1, 2 and 3 are related to the Group. [Paragraph

9(b)(ii)]

Example 3 – Key management personnel

IE9 A person, X, has a 100 per cent investment in Entity A and is a member of the key management personnel

of Entity C. Entity B has a 100 per cent investment in Entity C.

IE10 For Entity C’s financial statements, Entity A is related to Entity C because X controls Entity A and is a

member of the key management personnel of Entity C. [Paragraph 9(b)(vi)–(a)(iii)]

IE11 For Entity C’s financial statements, Entity A is also related to Entity C if X is a member of the key

management personnel of Entity B and not of Entity C. [Paragraph 9(b)(vi)–(a)(iii)]

IE12 Furthermore, the outcome described in paragraphs IE10 and IE11 will be the same if X has joint control

over Entity A. [Paragraph 9(b)(vi)–(a)(iii)] (If X had only significant influence over Entity A and not

control or joint control, then Entities A and C would not be related to each other.)

IE13 For Entity A’s financial statements, Entity C is related to Entity A because X controls A and is a member of

Entity C’s key management personnel. [Paragraph 9(b)(vii)–(a)(i)]

IE14 Furthermore, the outcome described in paragraph IE13 will be the same if X has joint control over Entity A.

The outcome will also be the same if X is a member of key management personnel of Entity B and not of

Entity C. [Paragraph 9(b)(vii)–(a)(i)]

IE15 For Entity B’s consolidated financial statements, Entity A is a related party of the Group if X is a member

of key management personnel of the Group. [Paragraph 9(b)(vi)–(a)(iii)]

Example 4 – Person as investor

IE16 A person, X, has an investment in Entity A and Entity B.

IE17 For Entity A’s financial statements, if X controls or jointly controls Entity A, Entity B is related to Entity A

when X has control, joint control or significant influence over Entity B. [Paragraph 9(b)(vi)–(a)(i) and

9(b)(vii)–(a)(i)]

X

Entity A

Entity C

Entity B

X

Entity A

Entity B



IE18 For Entity B’s financial statements, if X controls or jointly controls Entity A, Entity A is related to Entity B

when X has control, joint control or significant influence over Entity B. [Paragraph 9(b)(vi)–(a)(i) and

9(b)(vi)–(a)(ii)]

IE19 If X has significant influence over both Entity A and Entity B, Entities A and B are not related to each

other.

Example 5 – Close members of the family holding investments

IE20 A person, X, is the domestic partner of Y. X has an investment in Entity A and Y has an investment in

Entity B.

IE21 For Entity A’s financial statements, if X controls or jointly controls Entity A, Entity B is related to Entity A

when Y has control, joint control or significant influence over Entity B. [Paragraph 9(b)(vi)–(a)(i) and

9(b)(vii)–(a)(i)]

IE22 For Entity B’s financial statements, if X controls or jointly controls Entity A, Entity A is related to Entity B

when Y has control, joint control or significant influence over Entity B. [Paragraph 9(b)(vi)–(a)(i) and

9(b)(vi)–(a)(ii)]

IE23 If X has significant influence over Entity A and Y has significant influence over Entity B, Entities A and B

are not related to each other.

Example 6 – Entity with joint control

IE24 Entity A has both (i) joint control over Entity B and (ii) joint control or significant influence over Entity C.

IE25 For Entity B’s financial statements, Entity C is related to Entity B. [Paragraph 9(b)(iii) and (iv)]

IE26 Similarly, for Entity C’s financial statements, Entity B is related to Entity C. [Paragraph 9(b)(iii) and (iv)]

X

Entity A Entity B

Y

Entity A

Entity B Entity C


AASB 124 25 DELETED IAS 24 TEXT

Deleted IAS 24 text

Deleted IAS 24 text is not part of AASB 124.

28 An entity shall apply this Standard retrospectively for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2011.

Earlier application is permitted, either of the whole Standard or of the partial exemption in paragraphs 25–

27 for government-related entities. If an entity applies either the whole Standard or that partial exemption

for a period beginning before 1 January 2011, it shall disclose that fact.

28A IFRS 10, IFRS 11 Joint Arrangements and IFRS 12, issued in May 2011, amended paragraphs 3, 9, 11(b),

15, 19(b) and (e) and 25. An entity shall apply those amendments when it applies IFRS 10, IFRS 11 and

IFRS 12.

28B Investment Entities (Amendments to IFRS 10, IFRS 12 and IAS 27), issued in October 2012, amended

paragraphs 4 and 9. An entity shall apply those amendments for annual periods beginning on or after 1

January 2014. Earlier application of Investment Entities is permitted. If an entity applies those amendments

earlier it shall also apply all amendments included in Investment Entities at the same time.

29 This Standard supersedes IAS 24 Related Party Disclosures (as revised in 2003).


AASB 124 26 BASIS FOR CONCLUSIONS

Basis for Conclusions on AASB 2015-6

This Basis for Conclusions accompanies, but is not part of, AASB 124. The Basis for Conclusions was originally

published with AASB 2015-6 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards – Extending Related Party Disclosures

to Not-for-Profit Public Sector Entities.

Background

BC1 This Basis for Conclusions summarises the Australian Accounting Standards Board’s considerations in

deciding to extend the scope of AASB 124 Related Party Disclosures (December 2009) to the not-for-profit

public sector. Individual Board members gave greater weight to some factors than to others.

BC2 The first version of AASB 124, AASB 124 Related Party Disclosures (July 2004), applied explicitly to

general purpose financial statements of companies and other for-profit entities. The December 2005 and

subsequent versions of AASB 124 specifically exempt not-for-profit public sector entities from applying

AASB 124. This exemption was provided on the grounds of practicability, including the number of intra-

government transactions.

BC3 The Board received representations from constituents that the disclosure of relevant related party

information is a critical element of accountability in the public sector. A key example is information

relating to key management personnel of public sector entities, the disclosure of which is not required under

current Australian Accounting Standards.

BC4 Following requests from its constituents to review IAS 24 Related Party Disclosures, the International

Accounting Standards Board (IASB) made amendments to simplify the definition of ‘related party’ and, to

ease concerns about practicability, provide a partial exemption from the disclosure requirements for entities

that are related by virtue of being controlled, jointly controlled or significantly influenced by the same

government. The Board incorporated the revised IAS 24 into AASB 124 (December 2009). The Board

noted that this version of AASB 124 provides a more appropriate basis for application by not for profit

public sector entities than the previous versions, as transactions between government-related entities of the

same jurisdiction are exempted partially from disclosure.

BC5 Therefore, in furtherance of its policy of promulgating transaction-neutral Standards to the extent feasible,

the Board initiated a project to consider issues relating to extending the scope of AASB 124 (December

2009) to not-for-profit public sector entities. The Board issued Exposure Draft ED 214 Extending Related

Party Disclosures to the Not-for-Profit Public Sector in July 2011. ED 214 exposed for public comment the

Board’s proposal to extend the scope of AASB 124 to include not-for-profit public sector entities. The ED

explained the Board’s reasons for its proposals, including its considerations as to the applicability of

AASB 124 to a not-for-profit public sector context. In addition, public roundtables were conducted with

public sector constituents to identify concerns and implementation issues arising from the Board’s

proposals.

BC6 In finalising its proposals that not-for-profit public sector entities be required to apply AASB 124

unamended, the Board addressed a range of issues, including consideration of:

(a) amending the definition of ‘key management personnel’ for such entities;

(b) amending the requirements to provide such entities with some relief from disclosure of

ministerial compensation;

(c) exempting such entities from disclosing certain related party transactions with Ministers;

(d) not requiring general government sector (GGS) financial statements to comply with AASB 124;

(e) adding a public sector perspective to AASB 124, for example by inserting an alternative

definition for the term ‘business’ in paragraph 5 of AASB 124; and

(f) extending the disclosure requirements in AASB 124 for key management personnel.

Each of these issues and the outcome of the Board’s considerations are noted below.

BC7 In finalising its proposals, the Board also considered constituent feedback for implementation guidance to

be developed to assist not-for-profit public sector entities in applying AASB 124. The Board noted that

while some information about Ministerial or senior executive compensation or related party transactions

may be disclosed pursuant to other legislation or directives, the requirement to apply AASB 124 will be the

first time that information about a not-for-profit public sector entity’s related parties is specified by

Australian Accounting Standards for inclusion in its general purpose financial statements. Consequently,



such entities may not have previously considered challenges in implementing the Standard’s requirements

in a not-for-profit public sector environment. The Board considered that these entities may also have

difficulty in identifying and determining the extent of the information necessary to meet the objective of

AASB 124, as described in paragraph 1 of the Standard. Accordingly, the Board determined that the final

amendments would include implementation guidance to assist not-for-profit public sector entities with their

implementation of the Standard.

Significant issues

Definition of key management personnel

BC8 The Board considered whether an amendment of the definition of key management personnel for the not-

for-profit public sector would be necessary to facilitate a decision to remove the not-for-profit public sector

exemption from AASB 124, but decided that the present definition was suitable. The AASB noted that, in a

public sector context, entities should consider the facts and circumstances in assessing whether a person is a

member of the key management personnel, as defined, of the entity.

BC9 The Board considered that normally, the determination of key management personnel will be similar for

entities in the public sector or the private sector. For example, a not-for-profit public sector entity will need

to determine whether all, or only certain, of its senior executive service employees meet the definition of

key management personnel. However, the Board acknowledged constituents’ concerns that the

determination of key management personnel may not be straightforward in the not-for-profit public sector

given ministerial-type roles. The Board noted that it does not regard a Minister to always be a member of

the key management personnel of a not-for-profit public sector entity; rather, this is dependent on the

particular circumstances of the jurisdiction and of the entity. Accordingly, the Board decided to add

guidance to the Standard, in the absence of a private sector analogy, to assist not-for-profit public sector

entities in applying the definition of key management personnel to Ministers, as ministerial-type roles do

not usually arise in a private sector context.

BC10 The Board also noted that an entity may determine that a relevant Minister may not meet the definition of

key management personnel of an entity. However, the Board observed that this did not preclude that

Minister from being otherwise identified as a related party of the entity, for example, where the Minister is a

member of the key management personnel of the entity’s parent.

Key management personnel compensation – Ministers

BC11 Respondents to ED 214 raised concerns that the requirements of AASB 124 pertaining to the disclosure of

key management personnel compensation would be onerous if applicable to Ministers, noting also that any

attribution of a Ministerial salary across entities coming under the responsibility of that Minister’s portfolio

would involve significant judgement.

BC12 The Board considered whether some relief was necessary with respect to the compensation of a Minister

who is a member of the key management personnel of an entity. The Board observed that Ministers are

typically remunerated through Parliament via a central agency, and that a Minister’s compensation, while

related to their responsibilities, may not be related to services performed for any specific entity or group of

entities.

BC13 The Board noted the addition of paragraphs 17A and 18A into AASB 124 since the comment period on

ED 214 closed. These paragraphs were inserted into AASB 124 by AASB 2014-1 Amendments to

Australian Accounting Standards (June 2014) to address the disclosures that apply where members of the

key management personnel are not employees of the reporting entity (see paragraphs BC51 and BC52 of

IAS 24). The Board considered that these paragraphs will be of relevance to a not-for-profit public sector

entity when considering the disclosure of the compensation of a Minister who has been identified as part of

the key management personnel of the entity, and may alleviate the respondents’ concerns noted in

paragraph BC11. Accordingly, the Board decided that no amendment to AASB 124 to address the

disclosure of ministerial compensation was necessary at this time. However, the Board decided to add

implementation guidance to clarify the manner it considers paragraph 17A operates in relation to a

Minister’s compensation.

Related party transactions

BC14 The definition of ‘related party’ in AASB 124 separately addresses persons and entities related to the entity

preparing general purpose financial statements. The partial exemption in AASB 124 from the disclosure



requirements for government-related entities applies only in relation to those entities specified in paragraphs

25(a) and 25(b) of that Standard, and not also to persons who are related parties covered by paragraph 17

(key management personnel compensation) or paragraph 18 (transactions during the periods covered by the

financial statements) of AASB 124.

BC15 Having regard to the partial exemption for government-related entities in AASB 124, the Board considered

whether providing an exemption for the disclosure of related party transactions with Ministers or local

government councillors was justified by any circumstances unique to the public sector and that may not

have been considered by the IASB, whose mandate is limited to for-profit entities. The Board’s

consideration included the role of Ministers in a government and how onerous the disclosures required

under AASB 124 might be. As part of its consideration, the Board had regard to the New Zealand

Accounting Standards Board’s decisions relating to disclosures of related party transactions with Ministers.

BC16 The Board observed that Ministers who are members of the key management personnel of their government

would also be related parties not only of the government but also of each controlled entity of the

government. Accordingly, a subsidiary government entity will be required to disclose related party

transactions with Ministers who may have no responsibility for the entity to the extent the disclosures are

considered material, from the entity’s perspective, for disclosure. For example, the Board noted that in

Example 1 of the Illustrative Examples accompanying AASB 124, Entities 1¬, 2, A, B, C and D will be

required to disclose in their financial statements related party transactions between a Minister who is a

member of the key management personnel of Government G and the entity, even where the Minister’s

portfolio does not include the entity.

BC17 The Board noted that, as is often the case with related party transactions, judgement would be required as to

when transactions are material, especially when qualitative assessments are made about the nature of

transactions. The Board considered situations in which key management personnel of a not-for-profit

public sector entity, including Ministers or local government councillors where so identified, paid taxes,

levies or other statutory charges or fees faced generally by citizens, or used public services such as state

hospitals or schools. The Board does not expect, absent unusual circumstances, that the application of

materiality would result in disclosure in many of these situations. In contrast, a commercial contract

entered into by a Minister or local government councillor with a related public sector entity may be relevant

for disclosure, similar to a commercial contract between a member of the key management personnel of a

for-profit entity and the for-profit entity (for example, a contract to provide accountancy services between

the entity and an entity controlled by a member of its key management personnel). Accordingly, the Board

observed that a not-for-profit public sector entity would also need to apply judgement in determining the

extent of information it needs to collect to meet the objective of AASB 124, as there is little value in an

entity incurring significant costs to obtain data that is immaterial for disclosure. The Board noted that it

would expect appropriate criteria to be identified so that information about transactions that are possibly

material (for example, transactions that have occurred at a different price or volume to that applying to the

general public) is captured for assessment.

BC18 Having regard to the role of materiality, the Board decided that no specific exemption from disclosure of the

related party transactions with key management personnel of a not-for-profit public sector entity, including

any Ministers or local government councillors where so identified, was necessary. However, to respond to

constituents’ requests for clarification on the extent of disclosures required of related party transactions that

occur in the not-for-profit public sector, the Board decided to add implementation guidance to AASB 124 to

assist not-for-profit public sector entities in this regard.

Transactions with Ministers acting in their collective government capacity

BC19 The Board considered whether transactions with Ministers who are related parties and who are acting in

their collective government capacity would be assessed as being with the government and eligible for the

partial exemption from disclosure in paragraphs 25 and 26 of AASB 124. The Board decided that such

transactions were in substance transactions between the entity and the government-related entity, rather than

being transactions with the Ministers in their own right, and that no clarification to the Standard was

necessary in this regard (however, see also paragraphs BC20–BC22 below).


BC20 The Board noted that not-for-profit public sector entities were previously excluded from applying the

Standard on grounds of practicability, including having regard to the number of intra-government

transactions. In extending the Standard to apply to not-for-profit public sector entities, the Board



considered the extent of transactions for which disclosure may be necessary to comply with paragraph 26 of

the Standard.

BC21 In its considerations, the Board had regard to the IASB’s reasons for including the partial exemption, being

to resolve concerns raised when the Standard was applied in environments where government control is

pervasive. The Board noted that the IASB had indicated that it did not intend to require the entity to

identify every government-related entity or to quantify in detail every transaction with such entities, as such

a requirement would negate the exemption (see paragraph BC43 of IAS 24).

BC22 The Board noted that it shared the IASB’s view communicated in paragraph BC45 of IAS 24. Paragraph

BC45 of IAS 24 states:

BC45 The Board noted that this requirement should not be too onerous for the reporting entity because:

(a) individually significant transactions should be a small subset, by number, of total

related party transactions;

(b) the reporting entity should know what those transactions are; and

(c) reporting such items on an exceptional basis takes into account cost-benefit

considerations.

Nevertheless, the Board decided to add implementation guidance to the Standard to respond to constituent

concerns about the extent of disclosure required by paragraph 26.

Other issues

Applicability to the general government sector

BC23 Respondents to the Exposure Draft sought clarification as to whether related party disclosures would be

required in general purpose financial statements of entities in the general government sector (GGS). The

Board noted the requirements in AASB 1049 Whole of Government and General Government Sector

Financial Reporting for GGS and whole of government financial statements to be made available at the

same time and, if presented separately, to be cross-referenced to each other. The Board also noted that there

may be considerable overlap between the related party disclosures for the GGS and whole of government

financial statements, and that exempting GGS entities from the scope of the Standard may reduce

complexity and duplication of disclosures.

BC24 The Board noted that the issue of related party disclosures by subsidiary entities is also relevant to for-profit

entities, and considered that related party disclosures for the GGS entity need not be the same as the

disclosures for the whole-of-government or other public sector entities. Accordingly, the Board decided

that GGS financial statements should not be exempt from complying with the Standard.

Public sector perspective

BC25 The Board considered whether amendment was necessary to AASB 124, for example, to paragraphs 5 and

27, to add a public sector perspective to the Standard. The Board decided that amendment was not

necessary in this regard and that the addition of limited implementation guidance in respect of not-for-profit

public sector entities would provide a sufficient public sector perspective to the Standard.

BC26 For example, the Board considered whether an alternative definition (to that in Appendix A of AASB 3

Business Combinations) for the term ‘business’ in paragraph 5 of AASB 124 was necessary. The Board

decided that an alternative definition is not required, which is consistent with its decision when it reissued

AASB 3 in March 2008. In the Board’s view, the term ‘business’ can be read broadly. In particular, the

phrase “lower costs or other economic benefits directly to investors or other owners, members or

participants” in the definition of ‘business’ in AASB 3 is broad and can be applied by not-for-profit public

sector entities.

Extending the disclosures of key management personnel of public sector entities

BC27 In finalising the amendments, the Board considered requests from some public sector constituents for

additional disclosures (such as salary banding disclosures) for key management personnel in the public

sector. Some constituents also queried whether additional disclosures similar to those required by

section 300A of the Corporations Act 2001 of key management personnel of listed companies should be

required in respect of key management personnel of government business enterprises, based on the view



that for-profit government business enterprises should be regarded as at least as publicly accountable as

such entities.

BC28 The Board follows a policy of transaction neutrality in the requirements in Standards. Therefore, the Board

decided not to require any compensation or other related party disclosures for key management personnel of

public sector entities in addition to those specified of key management personnel of private sector entities,

including in instances where a not for profit public sector entity has availed itself of the relief in paragraph

17A of AASB 124. The Board was not convinced that there was a not for profit sector specific reason to

impose disclosures that exceed the requirements for for-profit entities.

Reduced disclosure requirements

BC29 The Board considered whether amendment was required to the reduced disclosure requirements specified in

paragraph Aus1.11 for application by not-for-profit public sector entities, and decided that no amendment

was necessary in this regard. Accordingly, the reduced disclosure requirements set out in AASB 124 that

apply to Tier 2 not-for-profit public sector entities are the same as those applying to other Tier 2 entities.

Application date and transitional provisions

BC30 The Board considered the application date and transitional provisions of the amendments to extend the

scope of AASB 124 to include not for profit public sector entities. The Board acknowledged constituent

concerns about the ability of existing systems, processes and controls to capture the information required,

and requests for a lengthy transition period prior to mandatory application of the amendments.

BC31 The Board was disinclined to unnecessarily further extend the period to which these amendments are on

issue before mandatory application, having made its key decisions on the amendments in 2012, and as the

finalised amendments are largely as were exposed. Further, the Board noted that Australian Implementation

Guidance to AASB 10 Consolidated Financial Statements relating to the application of control by not-for-

profit entities had been issued by the Board in October 2013. The Board also noted that the forthcoming

issue of an amending standard extending the scope of AASB 124 to not-for-profit public sector entities has

been signalled in its publicly available work program. Accordingly, the Board decided that the amendments

should apply to annual reporting periods beginning on or after 1 July 2016.

BC32 However, having regard to constituent concerns, the Board decided not to require comparative related party

disclosures to be presented in the period of initial application of the amendments.


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